This week’s edition of Sunday Night Baseball will pit the Yankees against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. While you try to stifle your excitement about this fresh matchup, ESPN is adding a new wrinkle to the game broadcast that might capture some attention – they’re sending Dan Shulman and John Kruk to the top of the Green Monster to call the game.
Much like they did in May when they put Shulman and Kruk in the Wrigley Field bleachers, ESPN is still keeping their telecasts fresh and experimenting a little bit. I know some people are naturally cynical about ESPN’s production of baseball games, but I think Shulman and Kruk have done a fine job this season, especially when you consider that they weren’t even supposed to be a duo at the start of the season (Curt Schilling was supposed to be with them in the booth before his cancer diagnosis).
With as few iconic ballparks as we have left, networks need to take advantage of these unique broadcasting opportunities. The only other places in ballparks that would make for unique telecasts would probably be the outfield bleachers at both Yankee Stadium and Dodger Stadium, but they have their own set of logistical issues. I don’t know what else ESPN can pull out of their hats over the final two months of the season, but I’m cautiously optimistic.
[ESPN]
